Small and marginal farmers, who constitute more 75 per cent of the total number of farmers in the State, have been hit hard by the skyrocketing prices of all types of fertilizers in the ongoing kharif season.
While the price of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) has increased by 199 per cent from 2010, prices of other fertilizers have gone up by up to 250 per cent.
Almost all farmers use DAP, muriate of potash (MoP), and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) fertilizers. The price of DAP increased from Rs. 9,724 a tonne in April 2010 to Rs. 19,014 in April 2012, an increase of 199 per cent.
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The price of MoP increased from Rs. 4,633 a tonne to Rs. 11,760-12,000, while the price of NPK went up from Rs. 5,556.8 a tonne to Rs. 14,400-15,540 during the same period.
In terms of percentage, prices of MoP and NPK increased by 259 and 279 per cent respectively in April 2012, over the prices in April 2010, officials in the Agriculture Department told The Hindu . “Even if there is adequate supply of fertilizers, farmers will not lift sufficient quantity this year,” says Kurubur Shantakumar, president of the Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association.
Minister for Agriculture Umesh Katti has blamed the Centre for the increase. Removal of subsidy and introduction of the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy by the Centre from April 1, 2010 on decontrolled fertilizers are the major reasons for the sharp hike in the prices of nutrients in the last two years.
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The prices of ammonium phosphate, triple super phosphate, single super phosphate, ammonium sulphate and other complex fertilizers have also increased by over 200 per cent, officials say.
With disproportionate price increases for DAP, MoP and NPK, farmers have stepped up usage of relatively cheaper urea, says Mr. Shantakumar. The price of urea is Rs. 5,634 a tonne.